Poisoning

What to do in the event of a suspected poisoning?

If you suspect that your child may have ingested a poison, call for emergency
medical assistance immediately. In most communities, including Columbia and
all of Boone County, dial 9-1-1. If your community does not have 9-1-1, call
your local emergency number or the Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Poison
Control Center emergency toll free office at 1-800-366-8888.

In Missouri, the American Association of Poison Control Centers is operated
by:

If you live in Columbia or Boone County, when you dial 9-1-1, a communications
operator will dispatch the appropriate fire and ambulance units and then connect
via three way calling, the Cardinal Glennon Poison Control Center. At that point,
a poison control specialist will ask specific questions and guide you through
specific actions or perhaps no action at all. Meanwhile, the 9-1-1 operator
will be able to relay the instructions from the poison control center to the
responding fire and ambulance units so that the best medical care can be administered
upon their arrival.

Who is at risk?

Each year unintentional poisonings claim the lives of nearly 100 children,
with children age 4 and under accounting for nearly half of the deaths. In 1999
more than 1.1 million unintentional poisonings among children ages 5 and under
were reported to U.S. poison control centers. Male children are more likely
than female children to suffer exposures to poisons and death from poison ingestion.
African-American children are twice as likely to suffer unintentional poisoning
than Caucasian children.

Types of Poisonings

Medicines and Household Product PoisoningEach year more than 40 children die from unintentional exposure to household
products and medicines. Among children ages 5 and under, over one-half of poison
exposures are by non-pharmaceutical products such as cosmetics, cleaning substances,
plants, pesticides, art supplies and alcohol. When medicine is ingested by children
ages 4 and under, one-quarter of the medicines belong to someone who does not
live in the household. Grandma's purse, which may contain easy to open pill
boxes, are an easy source for children to obtain medication. And, in an alarming
statistic, only one-third of all care givers are able to measure the correct
dosage of prescribed medications administered to a child.

Lead PoisoningIt is estimated that almost one million children between the ages of 1 and
5 have elevated blood lead levels high enough to affect intelligence, growth
and development. Children between the ages of 1 and 2 are at the greatest risk
from lead poisoning. Ingesting dust from deteriorating lead-based paint is the
most common cause of lead poisoning among children. Sadly, children are more
likely to suffer elevated blood lead levels if they are low-income, receiving
Medicaid, living in large metropolitan areas or living in older homes.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (CO Poisoning)Each year, approximately 24 children ages 14 die from CO, a odorless, colorless
and tasteless gas. In 1999, an estimated 3,400 children were treated in emergency
rooms for exposure to CO. The majority of exposures to CO occur during the winter
months and the most common cause of CO-related poisoning are unvented supplemental
heaters (non-electric space heaters).

Poison Prevention Tips

Store all household products and medications locked out of sight and out
of reach of children. Never leave potentially poisonous household products
unattended while in use.

List the local poison control center and emergency medical service numbers
near every telephone.

Keep a bottle of Ipecac syrup on hand to be used ONLY on the advice of a
poison control center or doctor. Ipecac syrup induces vomiting and may cause
more damage if used without the advice of a poison control center or doctor.
you can obtain a bottle of Ipecac syrup at most stores and pharmacies.

Always read labels and follow directions listed on the bottle. If in doubt,
contact your doctor or pharmacist prior to administering the medication. Use
only the dispenser that came with the medication to measure dosages.

Install CO detectors in your home in every sleeping room and at least one
on each level of your home in a common area. Follow the manufactures instructions
on installation and maintenance. Do not install a CO alarm in the furnace
room or generally within 15 feet of a fuel-burning appliance. Have wood stoves,
furnaces, space heaters and other fuel burning appliances inspected regularly
by a qualified professional.

If you live in a home built before 1978, have your children tested for lead
exposure by your doctor or local health department. If it is determined that
you have lead-based paint in your home, hire a professional company to remove
or seal the lead-based paint.